Active Release Technique
Active Release Technique (ART) is a patented, non-invasive, soft-tissue treatment process that both locates and breaks down the scar tissue and fibrotic adhesions, which cause pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, numbness, and physical dysfunction associated with Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). ART is used both for the treatment of RSI's, as well as the improvement of athletic performance. Conditions such as TFL or IT Band Syndrome, hamstring or groin pulls, calf tightness, piriformis syndrome, glute tightness, plantar fascitis, shin splints, shoulder or back pain usually resolve in a short period of time. ART has become one of the most sought after sports injury techniques in professional and amateur sports due to its high degree of effectiveness.
Why is ART different?
ART is a highly successful approach to injuries of muscles, tendons, nerves, and the surrounding soft-tissues. ART is not massage, physical therapy, or chiropractic care. While those procedures relieve muscle and motion dysfunction, they do not necessarily address the underlying problems caused by scar tissue formation.
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. These treatment protocols, over 500 specific moves, are unique to ART. They allow the provider to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient.
Click HERE for more information about Active Release Technique at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used in the treatment of sports injuries and musculoskeletal and constitutional imbalances, and can be effective in relieving muscle pain, muscle spasms and improving circulation to tense or injured tissues. At Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare Amanda Melo has commonly found acupuncture especially effective for tendon and ligament sprain or strains and chronic injuries in which other types of treatment have been unsuccessful.
In the Traditional Chinese Medicinel (TCM) Theory, health is viewed as a balance between opposing forces (e.g. yin and yang) in the body. Forces that disrupt this balance are seen to move the body away from health and toward disease and/or poor function. Herbal medicines, diet, chiropractic, acupuncture, and exercise are all seen as ways to balance these forces to promote health and in the case of athletes, to improve performance.
Acupuncture needles as well as other related techniques are used to restore the normal balance and flow of Qi (energy) in the body so organs and bodily systems can work together in balance as nature intended. This Qi, or life force, flows through the body along a system of pathways, also known as meridians. Blood vessels, nerve pathways, and muscular-skeletal tissues are examples of similar pathways in Western Medicine. The proper interplay between these systems is crucial for optimal health and emotional well-being.
Click HERE for more information about Acupuncture at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Biomechanical Analysis
Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare doctors use Functional Movement Assessments and Gait analysis to identify faulty movement patterns resulting from muscle imbalances, muscle or joint restrictions, or muscle weakness. Faulty movement patterns can result in pain, decreased performance and overuse syndromes. Quite frequently, altered mechanics may not be evident during normal activities, but will become symptomatic during athletic activity as the muscle or soft-tissue begins to fatigue placing the body into a biomechanically incorrect position. Utilizing these assessment tools provides a visual indicator as to the source of a problem or a potential problem.
Speed, strength, agility, and flexibility are key components when it comes to succeeding in all athletics. As athletic performance begins with biomechanics, we believe this poor biomechanics to lead to serious injury if never corrected. Biomechanical analysis can help determine how much of the muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement and how efficiently. Most athletes exhibit sub-optimal biomechanics in one form or another, which not only limits their performance but can also result in injury.
While it may be difficult for an individual athlete to recognize his or her own faulty movement patterns, our doctors are trained to recognize each component of the movement—from stopping and starting, cutting, jumping, landing, swinging a golf club or baseball bat or even throwing a basketball. Our doctors then provide exercises that can correct faulty movement patterns. An individualized rehabilitation program may also be developed to allow the athlete to take his or her game to the next level.
Biomechanical analysis can be performed for virtually any activity or movement.
Click HERE for more information about Biomechanics at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Chiropractic
About the Spine
The bones of the spine are designed to move in concert with one another. Each spinal joint must move properly for optimum performance. Unfortunately they sometimes become stuck, misaligned, don't move enough, or they move too much. This can be caused by trauma (repetitive motion, car accidents, slips and falls, athletic activity, etc). It can also by caused by loss of flexibility, muscle deconditioning, and poor posture. When spinal joints are fixated or misaligned, they force other joints to move too much. These problems can distort normal spinal curves and compromise proper function.
How can Chiropractic help?
A chiropractor (someone who has obtained a Doctorate of Chiropractic, DC) is the acknowledged, certified and licensed medical specialist in the detection and correction of spinal misalignments. Through the use of Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT), Chiropractors can restore the normal position and movement of spinal joints. If left untreated, spinal misalignments can cause pain, increase the rate of spinal arthritis, predispose you to a sprain/strain injury, and increase the risk of a disc injury.
Click HERE for more information about Chiropractic care at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare
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Coaching
Jason Soria of Team Imagine Sports is the official in-house coach of Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare. Coach Soria is a USA Triathlon certified coach and a certified Personal Trainer. He enjoys working with all levels of athletes from beginner athletes to elite athletes. All attention is individualized. Private and / or group training is available. Personally Jason is an accomplished triathlete and runner. He has a multi-Ironman finisher.
Coaching Services offered at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare:
We know you have many options when choosing a coach, but we believe the services offered at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare will exceed your expectations and help you "Motivate your mind to achieve your goals".
We have many options for our coaching services including the White Package, the Red Package or the most popular Black Package.
Click HERE for more information about our Coaching Services including pricing at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Corrective Exercises
An important part of the recovery process for chronic pain is to strengthen weak or injured muscles that support the affected area. This helps restore mobility, minimize the build up of scar tissue and the development of arthritis, and helps to prevent re-injury of the affected area.
The majority of non-trauma related injuries are a result of muscle deconditioning, a change in the resting length of muscles due to sitting or leaning over a desk all day, or neurological inhibition of a muscle resulting in improper contraction of that muscle. Our personalized Corrective Exercise Programs are designed to address all of these issues. The combination of ART, massage, chiropractic, and corrective exercise will work synergistically to get you better faster and keep you better longer.
Our staff will provide detailed corrective exercises to be performed within our facility and sometimes outside our facility to ensure that each patient recovers to their fullest. Decreasing the potential of a reoccurance is just important as fixing the initial pain at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
Dr. Maloy is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).
Click HERE for more information about our Corrective Exercises at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Kinesio Taping
The Kinesio Taping Method has taken the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine world by storm. This amazing taping method was developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase over 25 years ago in Japan. Since then, Kinesio Taping has become the gold, or should we say "platinum," standard for therapeutic and rehabilitative taping. This proprietary method of taping uses a uniquely designed and patented tape for treatment of muscular disorders and lymphedema reduction, among other things.
The Kinesio Taping Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give support or to prevent over-contraction. The first technique gives the practitioner the opportunity to give support while still maintaining full range of motion. This enables the individual to participate in his/her normal physical activities with functional assistance. The second technique, which is most commonly used in the acute stage of rehabilitation, helps prevent overuse or over-contraction and helps provide facilitation of lymph flow for an entire 24 hour period. Correctional techniques include mechanical, lymphatic, ligament/tendon, fascia, space and functional. Kinesio Tex Tape can be used in conjunction with other therapies, including cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, massage therapy and electrical stimulation.
Kinesio Taping affects the activation of the neurological system and the circulatory system. Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body, they also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms. Consequently, more attention was given to the importance of muscle function in order to activate the body's own healing process. Using an elastic tape, such as Kinesio Tex Tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Kinesio Taping is an innovative approach to treating nerves, muscles and organs.
Since the introduction of Kinesio Taping in the United States, medical practitioners such as PTs, ATCs, OTs, DCs, MTs and MDs have recognized and embraced this effective, safe and best of all, easy-to-use modality. The method and tape allow the individual to receive the therapeutic benefits 24 hours a day with both comfort and ease because it can be worn for several days per application. Currently, Kinesio Taping is used in hospitals, clinics, high schools and by even by professional sports teams.
Click HERE for more information about Kinesio Taping at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Laser Therapy
What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) A/K/A Cold Laser Therapy?
LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy) or cold laser therapy is a new non-thermal therapy modality for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with soft tissue disorders. The Apollo Portable Laser System is a non-thermal laser which provides a 810 nanometer wavelength laser beam with an incredible 2000 mW of optical power which can penetrate soft-tissue up to 6 cm's in depth. This is more than double the penetration of other cold lasers on the market.
The doctors at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare utilize the state of the art Apollo Laser.
So how does the Apollo Laser work?
Non-thermal light energy or photobiostimulation produces an increase in cellular metabolism which significantly increases cellular repair, reduces inflammation, and decreases pain.
What type of ailments respond to laser treatment?
The following is a list of conditions we have treated in our office which responded very well to laser therapy:
* Arthritis of the knee
* Post-surgical bicep repair
* Elbow tendinitis
* Rotator cuff tendinitis
* Jumper's knee
* Achilles tendinitis
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Acute shoulder impingement syndrome
* Ankle pain
Although there is no guarantee of pain relief with cold laser therapy, an overwhelming majority of our patients have noticed improvement in 1-5 treatments.
Click HERE for more information about Laser Therapy at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy provides an alternative health option to help alleviate the soft-tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular overuse and many chronic pain syndromes. It can also greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning if employed early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury.
Many of today's health problems arise from stress. Because stress upsets the delicate integral balance of all your body's functions, regaining this balance requires a holistic approach. Massage Therapy is safe and effective if used for stress management, but is also widely used to help patients obtain relief from many other ailments such as tension headaches, whiplash, tendinitis, neck and shoulder tension, back pain, muscle spasms, myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, and sprain/strain injuries.
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The tension and pushing movements in Massage Therapy move fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels. By increasing the pressure in front of the motion, a vacuum is created behind the movement. This is especially important in tight or damaged muscle tissue as a tight muscle will squeeze blood out like a sponge, depriving the tissues of vital nutrients and energy to repair.
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Massage Therapy can help increase tissue permeability. Deep tissue massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which help them recover quicker.
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Massage Therapy can stretch tissues that could not be stretched in the usual methods. Bundles of muscle fibers are stretched lengthwise as well as sideways. Massage Therapy can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up.
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Massage Therapy can help break up scar tissue from previous injuries or trauma. Scar tissue can negatively effect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
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Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues.
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Massage Therapy increases blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. What Massage Therapy also does is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.
Click HERE for more information about Message Therapy at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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Traction Therapy AKA Decompression Therapy
Mechanical Traction therapy is non-surgical, non-invasive, and does not involve pain medications. The treatment is FDA approved and generally comfortable and relaxing. We use the Dynatronics DX2 unit to reduce pain as a result of lower back and neck pain from disc bulges and herniations, posterior facet syndrome, stenosis, sciatica, etc. Treatment sessions are brief, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
Traction may alleviate back pain by stretching tight spinal muscles that result from spasm and widen intervertebral foramen to relieve nerve root impingement. Mechanical Traction reduces the pressure on discs through a gentle traction force, allowing for improved circulation and exchange of fluids within the disc.
During a session, a patient will be comfortably positioned and secured to the treatment table. The patient is placed in a pelvic harness secured to one end of the table. The traction unit is motorized so that the traction is controlled at all times and based off the patient's own body weight.
Traction is also available for the cervical spine.
Conditions commonly treated by mechanical traction:
- Disc bulges
- Facet Syndrome
- Stenosis
- Sciatica
- Disc Degeneration
- Spondylosis
Click HERE for more information about Traction Therapy at Spring Valley Spine and SportsCare.
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